tormented 1 of 2

adjective

as in tortured

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tormented

2 of 2

verb

past tense of torment
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to he was tormented by nightmares about the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tormented
Verb
Young, tormented by sickle-cell disease, saw many of those closest to him die by homicide or suicide. — Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 Or suppose you’re being tormented by someone in power, but lack the ability to explain to others—or even to yourself—exactly how you’re being wronged. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026 The trailer shows Depp as Scrooge tormented by the terrifying spirits of Christmas, haunting him throughout the Christmas season. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 23 July 2026 Elordi played high school bully Nate, who in Season 3 dealt with some goons who tormented him and brutally physically assaulted him. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 July 2026 The iconic college film follows a group of freshmen who grew tired of being tormented by the fraternity brothers of Alpha Beta at Adams College. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026 The three-paragraph note compared Lyons to a Nazi and predicted that Lyons would be tormented by his own conscience. — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 6 July 2026 Tournament favorites France, for example, have so thoroughly taunted and tormented their opponents that anything short of the final would seem an injustice at this point. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026 The Gold Glove third baseman tormented them for years with the Colorado Rockies, and it’s been no different with the Diamondbacks. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tormented
  1. tortured
  2. plagued
  3. frustrated
  4. persecuted
  5. harassed
  6. afflicted
  7. harried
  8. besieged
Adjective
  • The committee is tasked with analyzing and reviewing problematic conference papers and enhancing quality screening of articles prior to publication to detect integrity issues such as plagiarism and tortured phrases.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
  • Bernstine brings just enough light to her tortured cop, while McNairy brings just enough anguish to his good-hearted caretaker.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 July 2026
Definition of tortured
Verb
  • In recent years, Georgia’s State Election Board has been plagued by infighting, feuds, insults, partisan maneuvering and out-and-out shouting matches.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • That report, released by the county last month, details a department doing many things right but also plagued by a poor facility in Bonita and other practices that don’t align with industry standards.
    — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of plagued
Adjective
  • Sudbury had grown frustrated seeing so many people dedicate themselves to changing their lives but still fail to secure housing or work once background checks were run.
    — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Philips is quick to push back on the idea that his story is a plug-and-play template for frustrated twenty-somethings who can’t land a corporate job.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrated
Verb
  • Although the two programs similarly target humanitarian concerns, being a TPS holder does not guarantee asylum, which requires that applicants prove they’ve been persecuted on specific grounds.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.
    — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026
Definition of persecuted
Adjective
  • Others were placed under house arrest, harassed or subject to extensive surveillance, or had their passports confiscated, according to prior NPR reporting and the findings of the United Nations and rights groups.
    — Emily Feng, NPR, 17 May 2026
  • For years, Christian clergy who live and work in Jerusalem have reported being frequently spat on, harassed and even physically attacked by Israeli extremists.
    — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Definition of harassed
Verb
  • Blending horror with comedy, the Apple TV show takes place in a fictitious New England island town afflicted by a centuries-old curse that brings about supernatural evils.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • In Seattle, by contrast, efforts to reduce public drug use force afflicted neighborhoods to pay a high price.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of afflicted
Adjective
  • The audio of the emergency towing call captures a harried, often confusing scene and not everything in the recording is audible or makes sense.
    — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
  • The assignment’s seen as an intrusion into their harried lives.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of harried
Verb
  • The staff means business, with the host stand besieged by walk-ins, take-out orders, and impatient guests waiting outside.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • His entries have always been besieged by cameos from popular characters such as Iron Man, Nick Fury, or, as in No Way Home, the Spider-Men that preceded Holland’s take.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of besieged

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Cite this Entry

“Tormented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tormented. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of tormented for Spanish Speakers

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